CHARLOTTE — Officials at Duke Energy told Channel 9′s climate reporter Michelle Alfini that their grid is ready for a stretch of below-average temperatures.
Millions across the Carolinas will rely on their furnaces or heat pumps to keep them safe and warm.
“We’re coming into the months where we typically see our highest energy usage,” said Jeff Brooks, Duke Energy spokesman.
The utility company prepares well ahead of time to ensure they have enough power to meet the need, Brooks said.
If Duke Energy doesn’t do that, thousands could be left in the cold. It happened just over two years ago.
On the morning of Christmas Eve 2022, frigid temperatures caused failures in the both the generation and power delivery system.
“(It) was a very unique set of circumstances, because you had everywhere east of the Mississippi, essentially in extreme temperatures,” Brooks said.
At the same time, a surge in energy demand meant customers needed more power than Duke Energy could provide. The utility wasn’t able to purchase power from neighboring utilities, because many were experiencing the same pinch.
As a result, to prevent the grid from overloading, the company turned off power to its customers for hours.
In the years since, Brooks said Duke Energy has made adjustments to improve forecasting and maintenance to ensure they’re ready for the next cold snap.
“We always have work that goes on at some of our plants and we try to schedule that so that we have as many resources available during the coldest months,” Brooks said.
So far, Brooks said Duke Energy is not planning to request that customers conserve power.
For those concerned about high energy bills, he said efficient heat makes the biggest difference to the grid and your home.
“The closer you get that thermostat to the outside temperature, even just two or three degrees can make a big difference on how much heat you’re using and generate some energy savings for you,” he said. “Certainly, keeping your air filters clean, opening up the blinds on the sunny side of the house during the day to let natural heat in.”
Should energy demand rise, Duke Energy may ask customers to avoid high-energy tasks, which include running appliances or charging electric cars in the early morning hours. Need for power during cold months typically peaks between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. so shifting high energy tasks to midday could help moderate the energy load.
Customers who have voluntarily signed up for programs, such as EnergyWise, which allows Duke Energy to adjust their power usage during peak demand, may notice temporary changes to their thermostats.
VIDEO: Duke Energy takes next step to retire coal steam plants
©2025 Cox Media Group